The lamentable 'mcupis' is at it again on the thisisbath website and takes me to task over my recent letter calling for the 1857 Newark Works to provide Bath with an industrial museum to rival Bristol's M-Shed.

This individual asks where the money will come from to fund this dream, how many visitors it will attract and the cost of keeping it open?

My dear fellow, I am merely suggesting an alternative use for an important Bath building and a way to display the city's rich and diverse industrial past and a solid business plan will follow in due course. Let me tell you, however, that there is growing support for my idea and such a project would attract tourists from far afield and, if a city archive could be incorporated into the grand scheme of things, this would surely add to the venture's appeal and provide employment for many people.

I firmly believe that the past is Bath's future when it comes to tourism.

The bitter truth is that Britain is full to capacity. During the Second World War the population was around 45-million and due to careful management from the likes of Winston Churchill and Lord Woolton, the country was self-sufficient. The population has now swollen to more than 65-million and rising. What really disturbs me is that there are upwards of 850,000 empty properties in England, the majority of which could be restored or converted to provide living accommodation for the homeless and those struggling to gain a foothold on the housing ladder.

As for the Newark Works proposals, I would look to the Heritage Lottery Fund for support initially, approach the banks for input to compensate for bleeding us dry for years and, of course, private enterprise.

I am not suggesting for one minute that this council should dip into its coffers and spend public money.

It is worth reminding 'mcupis' and others that the proposals for this Grade II Listed Victorian building include retail outlets, a city archive, theatre, workshops aimed at apprenticeships and perhaps a studio focusing on musical activity. The end result would provide employment and attract a substantial tourist footfall.

Give up Cllr Chalker - it's clear that mcupis reads selectively - either that or he/she does not understand the words workshop, apprenticeship and employment. Anyway, I didn't think that he/she did live in Bath so what's his/her problem?

I could not disagree more with the view that "the past is Bath's future".
We do not live in a museum. Bath is a city. A living, thriving city. It needs to create jobs so that the people who live here can thrive here, not commute elsewhere every day to make room for more tourists.
Newark Works was the industrial heart of Bath. It is where the working class people of Oldfield Park and Twerton worked to support their families. Bath has lost almost all of its commercial business and has seen it replaced with more service sector, more tourism and more housing. Where are people supposed to work?
Our economy, locally and nationally, needs to create jobs, wealth and opportunity. The only way we will get out of this economic debacle is by helping people to set up businesses. We need local and national government to do everything they can to help people to do this. Newark Works would be a perfect place to set up an Enterprise Park to help gestate new businesses, creating jobs, wealth and opportunity for local people.
The last thing it needs is another museum dreamt up by somebody who is jammed in reverse gear. Cllr Chalker, if you think that you have to look backwards to find the best days of Bath and that "the past is Bath's future", I humbly suggest you stand aside for a Councillor who believes that the future is far more significant and that local people deserve to be given more opportunity to set up businesses and create wealth and opportunity for themselves and their fellow Bathonians.
If you truly think that the concept of supporting enterprise is "lamentable", then all I can say is that, as a proud Conservative, your values as a member of the party I carry a card for are totally at odds with everything I believe in.

I could not disagree more with the view that "the past is Bath's future".
We do not live in a museum. Bath is a city. A living, thriving city. It needs to create jobs so that the people who live here can thrive here, not commute elsewhere every day to make room for more tourists.
Newark Works was the industrial heart of Bath. It is where the working class people of Oldfield Park and Twerton worked to support their families. Bath has lost almost all of its commercial business and has seen it replaced with more service sector, more tourism and more housing. Where are people supposed to work?
Our economy, locally and nationally, needs to create jobs, wealth and opportunity. The only way we will get out of this economic debacle is by helping people to set up businesses. We need local and national government to do everything they can to help people to do this. Newark Works would be a perfect place to set up an Enterprise Park to help gestate new businesses, creating jobs, wealth and opportunity for local people.
The last thing it needs is another museum dreamt up by somebody who is jammed in reverse gear. Cllr Chalker, if you think that you have to look backwards to find the best days of Bath and that "the past is Bath's future", I humbly suggest you stand aside for a Councillor who believes that the future is far more significant and that local people deserve to be given more opportunity to set up businesses and create wealth and opportunity for themselves and their fellow Bathonians.
If you truly think that the concept of supporting enterprise is "lamentable", then all I can say is that, as a proud Conservative, your values as a member of the party I carry a card for are totally at odds with everything I believe in.